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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Chemical & Physical Oceanography Schools

14 Colleges in the United States
406 Chemical & Physical Oceanography Degrees Awarded
$52,838 Avg Early-Career Salary

Chemical & Physical Oceanography programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 44 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for chemical & physical oceanography students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Choosing a Great Chemical & Physical Oceanography School

Best Chemical & Physical Oceanography Schools

The school you choose for chemical & physical oceanography can shape your career. That is why we built our Best Chemical & Physical Oceanography Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.

In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.

Chemical & Physical Oceanography Rankings by Degree Level

Associate's Degrees in Chemical & Physical Oceanography
Bachelor's Degrees in Chemical & Physical Oceanography
Master's Degrees in Chemical & Physical Oceanography
Doctoral Degrees in Chemical & Physical Oceanography

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Chemical & Physical Oceanography Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.

Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.

See how we build our rankings

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Best Schools for Chemical & Physical Oceanography in the United States

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall chemical & physical oceanography education, regardless of degree level.

Top Schools in Chemical & Physical Oceanography

1
University Of Miami crest
University Of Miami
Coral Gables, FL

Our analysis ranked University Of Miami the best school in the country for a degree in chemical & physical oceanography. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. University Of Miami awarded about 19 chemical & physical oceanography degrees in the most recent data year. Chemical & Physical Oceanography graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $57,234 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in chemical & physical oceanography from University Of Miami

2

Massachusetts Institute Of Technology came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best chemical & physical oceanography schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates 96% of students within six years. About 17 chemical & physical oceanography degrees were awarded at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Chemical & Physical Oceanography graduates of Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn a median of $113,129 early in their careers. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $13,516 in student loans. Get the full chemical & physical oceanography details for Massachusetts Institute Of Technology

3

Students looking for a strong chemical & physical oceanography program will find one at University Of Connecticut, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the town of Storrs. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 chemical & physical oceanography degrees were awarded at University Of Connecticut in the most recent year. Chemical & Physical Oceanography graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of $58,784 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,637 to complete this degree. Read more about the chemical & physical oceanography program at University Of Connecticut

4

Students looking for a strong chemical & physical oceanography program will find one at Rutgers University New Brunswick, which ranked #4. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 10 chemical & physical oceanography students who graduated with this degree at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemical & physical oceanography program make about $47,045 in their early career. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates carry a median of $24,830 in student loans. See the full chemical & physical oceanography program report for Rutgers University New Brunswick

5

Students looking for a strong chemical & physical oceanography program will find one at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College, which ranked #5. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 57 chemical & physical oceanography degrees were awarded at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the chemical & physical oceanography program make about $42,218 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500. More information about a degree in chemical & physical oceanography from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College

6

Texas A And M University College Station ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best chemical & physical oceanography schools. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 29 chemical & physical oceanography students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemical & physical oceanography program make about $57,562 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,837. Read more about the chemical & physical oceanography program at Texas A And M University College Station

7

University Of California Santa Cruz earned the #7 position for chemical & physical oceanography this year. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 16 chemical & physical oceanography degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, chemical & physical oceanography degree recipients from University Of California Santa Cruz generally make around $43,362. University Of California Santa Cruz graduates carry a median of $20,833 in student loans. Get the full chemical & physical oceanography details for University Of California Santa Cruz

8

University Of California San Diego landed the #8 spot for chemical & physical oceanography this year. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 43 chemical & physical oceanography degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Students who receive their chemical & physical oceanography degree from University Of California San Diego earn around $79,645 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,101 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in chemical & physical oceanography from University Of California San Diego

9

University Of Rhode Island earned the #9 position for chemical & physical oceanography this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kingston. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. There were roughly 30 chemical & physical oceanography students who graduated with this degree at University Of Rhode Island in the most recent data year. Chemical & Physical Oceanography graduates of University Of Rhode Island earn a median of $52,821 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,432 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in chemical & physical oceanography from University Of Rhode Island

10

North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #10 among the best chemical & physical oceanography schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 chemical & physical oceanography students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Chemical & Physical Oceanography graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $38,871 early in their careers. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $22,234 in student loans. Read more about the chemical & physical oceanography program at North Carolina State University At Raleigh

11

University Of South Florida Main Campus landed the #11 spot for chemical & physical oceanography this year. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 chemical & physical oceanography students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Florida Main Campus in the most recent data year. Chemical & Physical Oceanography graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $48,565 early in their careers. University Of South Florida Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,002 in student loans. Get the full chemical & physical oceanography details for University Of South Florida Main Campus

12

University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best chemical & physical oceanography schools. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 48 chemical & physical oceanography degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Chemical & Physical Oceanography graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $29,724 early in their careers. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. See the full chemical & physical oceanography program report for University Of Washington Seattle Campus

13
Florida State University crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University landed the #13 spot for chemical & physical oceanography this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. Florida State University graduates 86% of students within six years. Florida State University awarded about 15 chemical & physical oceanography degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemical & physical oceanography degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $51,884. Florida State University graduates carry a median of $20,488 in student loans. Read more about the chemical & physical oceanography program at Florida State University

14

Old Dominion University came in at #14 for chemical & physical oceanography this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Norfolk. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. There were roughly 11 chemical & physical oceanography students who graduated with this degree at Old Dominion University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemical & physical oceanography degree from Old Dominion University earn around $57,131 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,001 to complete this degree. See the full chemical & physical oceanography program report for Old Dominion University

15

Humboldt State University landed the #15 spot for chemical & physical oceanography this year. Humboldt State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Arcata. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. Humboldt State University awarded about 11 chemical & physical oceanography degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemical & physical oceanography program make about $29,476 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,526. See the full chemical & physical oceanography program report for Humboldt State University

16

University Of Southern Mississippi ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best chemical & physical oceanography schools. Set in the city of Hattiesburg, University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public institution. University Of Southern Mississippi graduates 49% of students within six years. There were roughly 26 chemical & physical oceanography students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern Mississippi in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemical & physical oceanography degree from University Of Southern Mississippi earn around $52,338 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,415 to complete this degree. Read more about the chemical & physical oceanography program at University Of Southern Mississippi

17

University Of North Carolina At Wilmington came in at #17 for chemical & physical oceanography this year. Set in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 31 chemical & physical oceanography students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington in the most recent data year. Chemical & Physical Oceanography graduates of University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn a median of $38,459 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the chemical & physical oceanography program at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington

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Chemical & Physical Oceanography by Region

Explore the best chemical & physical oceanography schools by region.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Great Lakes

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Chemical & Physical Oceanography is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. Browse the parent area of study.

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 44 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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